Okay so... in chatting with an rp partner, we ended up discovering that we had been a part of the same fandoms some 10+ years ago. She ran a website that hosted some of my old fics... which made me drag out some old dvds that I'd saved my webpages on... and lo and behold, I found these old fics hanging around still and decided heck why not bring them back. So here they are, a trip down memory lane! These were written in the late 90's and early 2000's when I went by too many psudonyms to remember. I actually forgot who I was until I physically saw the fics listed and went 'oh crap I remember those!'. Ahh memories.

Be warned... these were my first attempts at writing and are likely riddled with grammar, spelling and other noted errors. I've read through them, blushed furiously that I used to write like this, and decided to put them up anyway as-is with no revisions. So please enjoy, but don't bother correcting or whining, they shall be ignored!

Standard Disclaimer: These characters were created by Watase Yuu so don't sue me.

Her eyes fluttered softly as she came aware to the soft melodies of songbirds, and the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind. Upon opening her eyes, she saw the sunlight wafting through the sweet smelling pink blossoms of the cherry trees above her.

Suddenly, the memories flooded back to her, engulfing her mind with their fierce tendrils. Looking around in panic, she was astonished to find that she didn't recognize her surroundings at all. Suddenly realizing someone was beside her, she glanced down to see Chichiri sprawled on the ground unconsious.

Putting a hand to her mouth in a mixed flurry of fear, wonder, anxiety, and uncertainty, sh stared at the unconsious monk. He looks so helpless now she thought sadly, eying the jagged scar on his face. I suppose it all makes sense somehow.

She ripped her eyes away from him upon hearing voices in the distance, and spied Tasuki and Maichie coming from over a hill carrying a pile of firewood and kindling. She rose and hesitanlty went to meet them.

They saw her coming. "Oi, Kouran, feeling better?" The trio haulted at the crest of the rise.

She stared at her hands for a minute, then spoke. "What happened?"

Tasuki scratched his head, a baffled look on his face. "Well, that's the funny thing, ya see, one minute we were falling and the next thing I know, I wake up here...back home."

"Back home?" Kouran asked softly, glancing about her.

Tasuki and Maichie exchanged worried glances, then Tasuki wiped it aside with a wave of his hand. "Yeah. Back where 'we'," he indicated himself and the unconsious Chichiri, "...belong."

"Oh." She glanced back towards Chichiri. "He is...I mean...that is..." She paused for a long time. "Houjun...it is him, isn't it?"

Maichie came up and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Yep, that he is. Your beloved Houjun, and the Shichiseishi Chichiri are one in the same."

"But...why?"

"Shhh, don't question it, just accept it!"

Kouran sat down next to the two as they kindled a fire to dry off. Her gaze kept shifting back toward Chichiri.

Tasuki noticed this and nudged her. "Oi, here got something fer ya." He produced a small bottle from his coat pocket. "It got left behind here when we were pulled into the past, along with his mask." Tasuki stared at the mask thoughtfully then handed it to her. "I dunno how you feel, but I know he'll never use that stuff," he indicated the bottle, "So why doncha give it to him while he's passed out, if you want to."

Kouran stared at the bottle uncomprehendingly. "What...I don't understand. What is it?"

Tasuki grinned mischiviously. "Just pour it on his left eye."

Kouran stared at him in astonishment. Then looked at the bottle. "Why won't he use it?"

"Aw, he wants to keep the darn thing...to remind him of what he did, he says."

"But if that's the case...then maybe I shouldn't...I mean...I should probably ask him..."

"Nah! He'll say no. Just go do it and he can't get mad at you really."

She slowly rose and headed toward the mage, purpouse riding in evey step. Kneeling down next to him, she gently rolled the mage over onto his back. Taking a long hard look, she suddenly yanked the cork from the bottle and began to tip it.

Like an iron fist, her hand was suddenly clamped in place by Chichiri's stronger one. His one eye gazed up at her, hurt in it.

"No." That's all he said, and upon him saying that, she closed her eyes and nodded in meek defeat.

She understood the pain he must carry, and seeing that pleading look in his eye, she realized that it was not right to do that. She gazed down at him, and smiled, understanding and a shared feeling of that pain in her eyes.

Splash

It was hard to tell who was more shocked, Chichiri or Kouran.

Of course, Tasuki stood above both of them with a huge insolent grin pasted on his face, his fangs shining in the morning light. In his hand he was tossing the bottle up and down...empty.

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